The hottest jazz gigs of autumn 2013: from Mehldau to Marsden

The hottest jazz gigs of autumn 2013: from Mehldau to Marsden
By: John Fordham and Robin Denselow

The singer, composer and bassist Esperanza Spalding has broken out of the jazz loop with more pop-oriented music, but she comes to the 2013 LJF as a virtuoso double bassist, part of a trio with the pianist Geri Allen and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. Sonny Rollins, the original headliner, has had to pull out for health reasons, but the 10-day event comfortably maintains its world-class, star-packed stature with artists including the legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter with the BBC Concert Orchestra, pianist Brad Mehldau playing a rare synthesizer show, guitarist John McLaughlin and percussionist Zakir Hussain celebrating the pioneering east-west Shakti group, composer Carla Bley in a trio with bassist Steve Swallow and Britain’s Andy Sheppard, and dozens more international stars, creative locals and newcomers appearing all over the city. Various venues, London, 15-24 November, londonjazzfestival.org.uk